Page 29 of August

He wrapped his hand around his cock and dropped back his head, stroking roughly. He needed this release in a bad way.

Before he did something dumber than shit.

***

Clean, dry, and dressed in her sister’s jeans and long-sleeved mauve shirt, Gigi stepped out of Ivy’s bedroom and made her way to the kitchen. Knowing August would be a couple of hours, she’d taken the time to thoroughly wash, dry, and curl her hair. She’d even put on a little bit of eyeshadow and mascara, and she felt marginally less like the drowned rat she’d resembled almost an hour before.

Ivy greeted her with a smile, a plate in her hand as she bustled to the table. “How you feeling?”

Gigi walked across the smooth hardwood floor. “Clean,” she said with a chuckle, then took one of the seats Ivy gestured toward. “I can’t believe this is the first time I’ve seen your place. Isn’t that weird?” A glass of water sat next to her fork and knife. She took a sip.

Ivy set down a plate of creamy pasta and chicken in front of her. Gigi groaned. “Ohmigod, I haven’t had real food in days. Months, actually, because Joe didn’t buy much other than meat and potatoes.”

Nostalgia spread through her at the thought of Joe. He’d done a good job of acting rough and ornery, but every week she’d find a bar of dark chocolate in the cupboard.

Her sister served herself then sat with a wink. “Well, this is one of your recipes, which is why it’ll be delicious, but I’m sure it’d be better if you’d made it.” A beat passed. Ivy gave her a tense smile. “Who’s Joe?”

A lead ball of anxiety formed in Gigi’s stomach. Emotion swirled around her heart, but she stifled it. “The U.S. marshal who took care of me.” Sadness enfolded her. “He died the night the cartel found me.”

Ivy’s eyes filled with sorrow. “Rami mentioned someone was killed that night. I’m so sorry, sis...”

Gigi picked up her fork and twirled the fettucine on her plate. “Me, too. He was a good man. I wish I could have done something—anything—differently. He shouldn’t have died.”

Ivy’s hand covered hers roughly. “He was a protector. It was in his nature. He knew the risk and still wanted to serve.”

Gigi swallowed and glanced at the empty spot at the table. “Where’s Rami?”

She waved dismissively. “On the phone with Toth. I think he wanted you and me to have some time alone.” Her eyes grew round with mischief. “Sooo... August, huh? How’s that going?”

Gigi curled her lip. “It’s not.”

Ivy hid a smile. “Oh? I thought maybe since you two have history there might be a spark or something there.”

Gigi sighed. “I honestly don’t know what he thinks. He’s hot and cold. One minute he’s holding me, touching me, the next he’s grumpy and distant.”

Ivy took a bite of her food and moaned. “Oh lord. This is one of your best recipes.” She cleared her throat and wiped her mouth with the napkin. “August is... well, he’s August. All I know is he jumped at the opportunity to help you and didn’t even call to tell us you were in trouble. He clearly cares.”

“He’d do that for anyone.”

Ivy narrowed her gaze. “Do you really think he treats you like he would any other client?”

The memory of August’s gaze boring into hers as their vehicle sank burned through her mind’s eye. His words were strong and reassuring.

I won’t let you die.

And he hadn’t.

“I think he’s still mad about how things ended between us.”

Ivy stabbed a sun-dried tomato. “Didn’t you break up when he went to South America?”

Gigi grimaced. She placed her fork on the table and rested her chin on her fist. Guilt had stolen her appetite. “I broke things off, yeah. We’d only been seeing each other two weeks when he left. But we... had chemistry.”

Ivy bobbed her eyebrows. “I remember. Best sex you ever had, right?”

Warmth spread to Gigi’s cheeks. “You have no idea. But he didn’t know how long he was going to be gone. He wouldn’t tell me anything about the mission, but knowing he was in black ops made it so scary. There was a good chance he’d die—and I was supposed to just wait? I barely knew the guy.”

“Okay, so he was gone how long?”

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